Ninety-five international military students from 76 countries visited Cessna as part of the United States Army Command and General Staff Officer Course (CGSOC) at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., Wednesday.

"From the information received during the program, they return to their countries with the skills required to help defend and preserve their own national security interests, which support U.S. foreign policy objectives," said Michael Brettman, field studies program manager for the international military student division for the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College.

"Cessna is a first-rate representation of a multinational company in America. With an increasingly international mix of sales, Cessna needs people who are culturally aware of the business practices in other countries. At the same time, many of the businesses in other countries trying to market to the United States face similar challenges as to how they relate to American businesses. Having the students visit Cessna provides an educational information exchange."

Lieutenant Colonel Carlos Penteado of Brazil said visiting Cessna allowed him to compare the way U.S. business operates to Brazilian industry.

"I have been to other aircraft manufacturer's facilities and there are many similarities between how the airplane manufacturing takes place," Penteado said. "However, there are many differences in the ways business is conducted. For example, the Brazilian government is very involved with their home-based general aviation manufacturer and other industries in our country. In America, this is not typically the case. There are good and bad aspects to each side, so it is interesting to see how Cessna functions in its free market environment."

Cessna is the only corporate business the group will visit as part of the course's field study program. Through the field studies portion, students visit and view examples of U.S. economic and business interests, judicial systems, local, state and federal government systems, and educational systems.

 "Cessna is a powerful example of how a small company founded nearly 80 years ago in America's heartland can grow to become a global company with airplanes in nearly every country in the world," said Roger Whyte, senior vice president of sales and marketing at Cessna. "We are proud to host these international officers and hope their time at Cessna will impact how they view and ultimately support U.S. foreign policy objectives."

Cessna has hosted the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College for 10 years.

"In the decade Cessna has hosted this group, about 900 students have come through and learned about Cessna," Brettman said. "Nearly half of everyone in our program goes on to be a general officer in their country's military, and, at any one time, 10 to 20 of our graduates are chiefs of staff in armies around the world. We are grateful for Cessna's participation as it helps educate these future leaders about business practices in American companies."

FMI: www.cessna.com